PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akmed Hussein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masaru Hirai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hirai has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hussein
vs
Hirai

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akmed Hussein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masaru Hirai!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hussein shoots in but Hirai avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hirai looks gassed!
Hirai keeps the fight on the outside.
Hirai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Hussein shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hussein showed some decent athleticism there.
Hussein keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hussein trying to control the action but Hirai is working from the bottom.
Hussein is looking to advance position but Hirai won't allow it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hirai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hussein is looking to take a break and control but Hirai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hussein seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hussein works his foot free and advances to mount.
Hussein looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hussein lands a big elbow.
Hussein controlling his opponent.
Hussein trying to control but Hirai is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hussein with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Hussein controlling from the full mount.
Hussein wants to control the pace but Hirai is squirming around nicely.
Hussein is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hirai can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussein landing shots from mount.
Hussein lands a big shot there that rocks Hirai but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hussein pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hussein controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hussein is landing with some decent strikes but Hirai is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hussein looking to finish Hirai with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hirai!
Hussein tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Hussein wants to finish this one by submission but Hirai is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hussein.
Hussein trying to control but Hirai is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussein with shots to the head and body - Hirai looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hussein controlling the position easily from mount.
Hussein landing shots from mount.
Hussein controlling the position easily from mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Akmed Hussein just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Hussein looks to land a combination but Hirai avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akmed Hussein dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hussein tries to clinch there but Hirai circles away.
Masaru Hirai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hirai stuffs the takedown.
Hussein shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hirai but Hirai pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hussein misses with a leg kick.
Hussein shoots in for a double leg but Hirai sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akmed Hussein. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hussein fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hussein moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hussein shoots in but no luck this time.
Hirai dodges the punch combination from Hussein.
Akmed Hussein is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A right-left combo lands from Hussein.

Hussein moves into the clinch.

Hussein escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hussein trying to land knees to the body.
Hussein is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Hussein has Hirai pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hussein pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hirai tumbling to the mat - Hussein dives into Hirai's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirai keeping moving, preventing Hussein from controlling successfully.
Hirai is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Hussein drops back looking for a leg! Hirai is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hirai manages to kick Hussein off! Hussein jumps back into Hirai's guard.
Hussein would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hussein throws and elbow that misses. Hirai uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hussein's guard. Nice move by Hirai!
Hussein pulls Hirai in close to prevent any damage.

Hussein is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hirai wants to control from the top but Hussein keeps moving.
Hussein is trying to keep Hirai in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussein is controlling Hirai's posture.
Hussein wants to sweep but no luck.
Hirai stops Hussein from standing up.
Hussein wants to sweep here but Hirai controlling him for the moment.

Hussein has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hirai can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hussein is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hussein tries for a takedown but Hirai manages to get underhooks.
Hussein is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hirai is defending well for now.
Hussein goes for a takedown attempt but Hirai pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hussein lands with an overhand left.
Hussein connects with a body shot.
Hussein scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hussein is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hirai sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hirai throws a head kick that misses.
Hussein misses with a low kick.
Hirai throws a head kick but Hussein moves out of range.
Hussein fails with the takedown.
Hirai wants to clinch but Hussein slips to the side

and Hussein moves into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Hussein.
Hirai wants to break the clinch but can't.

Hussein jumps into guard, dragging Hirai to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akmed Hussein dominated that second round.
That's time! Hussein's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Hirai stuffs the takedown attempt from Hussein. Hussein gets slowly back to his feet.
Hussein shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hirai sprawls well. Hirai wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hussein gets slowly back to his feet.
A punch combination from Hussein misses.

Hirai darts in and clinches Hussein up against the cage.

Hussein breaks the clinch.
Hussein misses with a low kick.

Hussein clinches up against the cage.
Hussein keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hirai's efforts to push away.

Hussein manages to break the clinch.
Hussein misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akmed Hussein. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hussein.
Hussein shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hussein shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hirai defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hussein.
A punch combination from Hussein misses.
Hussein scores with a three punch combo!
Hirai throws a head kick but Hussein moves out of range.
Hirai misses with a head kick.
Hussein looks to land a combination. Hirai sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hussein looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hirai is fending him off so far but Hussein persists. Nope, Hirai circles away and we're back to standing.
Hussein fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hirai manages to avoid it.
Hirai misses with a head kick.
Hussein misses with a few strikes there.
Hirai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hirai throws a head kick that misses.

Hussein pushes Hirai up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hussein manages to pull guard.

Hussein is working an open guard so Hirai takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hirai throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hussein wants to clinch.

Hussein has closed the distance and engaged Hirai in a clinch.
Hirai has had enough of the clinch but Hussein keeps him there for the moment.

Hussein breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hussein changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hirai tries to avoid it but Hussein manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hirai to the ground. Hirai escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hirai throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hussein pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hirai is out of range and Hussein settles back down.
Hussein looks for a takedown but Hirai sprawls well.
Hussein tries to clinch but Hirai moves out of range.
Hussein blocks a head kick by Hirai.
Hirai throws a leg kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hussein tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Hussein closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hirai prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hussein will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hirai up against the cage.
Hussein tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hirai is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hussein fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hirai has Hussein pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hussein manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Hussein manages to pull guard.
Akmed Hussein overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hirai wants to stand but Hussein has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hussein is controlling Hirai's posture.
Hussein is trying to keep Hirai in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirai trying to control but Hussein is working from the bottom.
Hirai is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Hussein is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hussein lands some strikes from the bottom.

Hussein working for a triangle but Hirai defends it easily.
Akmed Hussein is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hussein keeping moving, preventing Hirai from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akmed Hussein showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hussein has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akmed Hussein!